FAQs For Friends and Family
Your loved ones may have many questions regarding your condition. Due to the numerous myths about panic disorder, many people do question if panic symptoms are just an overreaction to fears and anxiety. Even well-intended friends and family members may wonder if you would just "get over" agoraphobia if you were forced into feared situations. On the other hand, most of your loved ones probably want to help you, but are uncertain about how to be supportive. Friends and family members often ask, "What can I do to help?" and "What are the best treatment options for panic disorder?"
Get the answers to these and other common FAQs for friends and family:
Managing Your Anxiety
Anxiety involves feelings of nervousness and fear. It often entails symptoms that impact one's thoughts and emotions. Anxiety can even be felt on a physical level, such as through headaches, muscle pain, and tension throughout the body. People with panic disorder are usually familiar with the struggle of managing anxiety. However, there are ways to more effectively deal with these feelings. There are some small changes you can make to start coping with anxiety.
Learn More:
4 Simple Steps To Managing Your Anxiety
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Maintaining Success After Treatment
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How is success maintained once treatment is over? What happens if panic symptoms become unmanageable again? What can be done to stay on a path toward recovery?
Typical treatment options for panic disorder include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of these two choices. Many people with panic disorder follow through with a treatment plan and are able to build the skills they need to manage their condition. Treatment typically ends once the treatment goals have been met and maintained for a period of time. A therapist will help the person to gradually transition out of therapy. Their doctor may even assist them in gradually reducing their medication.
The end of treatment can be a great leap forward on the recovery process. However, the end of treatment can also bring about many unanswered questions. Learn more about how to maintain success once treatment has come to an end:
Maintaining Your Success-What To Do When Treatment Has Ended
How Yoga Can Help Reduce Panic and Anxiety Symptoms
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Did you know that yoga can also be a way to help cope with feelings of fear and anxiety? Yoga can be an effective way for those with anxiety disorders to manage their symptoms. Regular yoga practice has been known to help restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit.Yoga has some of the same benefits of physical exercise for panic disorder with the additional benefit of deep relaxation.
The Physical Symptoms of Panic and Anxiety
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Panic and anxiety are often accompanied by many disturbing physical sensations. Common physical symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and muscle tension. Additionally, people with panic and anxiety are prone to developing co-occurring health conditions. Some conditions that are frequently experienced by people with panic disorder include headaches, migraines, and muscle pain. Despite the difficulty of these symptoms, it is possible to mange panic disorder and these co-occurring conditions.
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Getting the Help You Need
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Are you uncertain about where to turn to for help? Getting the help you need for panic disorder can start by calling and scheduling with your doctor or other mental health specialist. Many people are uncertain about what steps they need to take in order to get the help they need. Others feel intimidated about getting professional help. However, there is no need to suffer with panic attacks and other panic disorder symptoms on your own. You deserve to get help and to begin managing your condition. Read these tips on locating help for panic disorder.
Help for Family and Friends
Do you have a loved one with panic disorder? Family and friends may find it difficult to understand what a person with panic disorder is going through. You may not be able to relate to their experience with panic attacks or understand their fears related to agoraphobia. However, by learning more about their condition, you can better know what to expect as far as typical behaviors, symptoms, and course of treatment for panic disorder. If your loved one has been diagnosed with panic disorder, find out more about this condition and what you can do to help them through the recovery process. If you have been diagnosed with panic disorder and are struggling to get your loved ones on board, this article can get you started on talking to your friends and family about what you are dealing with.
The Link Between Panic Disorder and IBS
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that is characterized by frequent stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. Research has found that IBS is a commonly co-occurring condition for people with anxiety disorders. IBS symptoms have been found to be particularly high among people with panic disorder and agoraphobia. New studies have uncovered more information on the possible causes for this high co-occurance and effective treatment options that can potentially help in managing the symptoms of both conditions. Read More...
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Is There a Cure for Panic Disorder?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with panic disorder, you may have wondered if there is a type of medication or form of psychotherapy that can completely rid a person of panic symptoms. Unfortunately, there is not currently a cure for this condition. However, there are numerous treatment options that have been shown to safely and effectively help panic disorder sufferers manage their symptoms. Learn more about this frequently asked question and common treatment choices for panic disorder:
Homebound Out of Fear
Approximately one-third of people diagnosed with panic disorder will develop agoraphobia. An often distressing and potentially disabling condition, agoraphobia involves many fears around one's experience with panic attacks. Typically, a person with agoraphobia will become afraid of having panic attacks in a place or situation in which it would be either very challenging or extremely embarrassing to escape from. They may also fear having an attack in a place where no one will be available to help them through the attack.
The fears associated with agoraphobia can become so intense that the sufferer develops avoidance behaviors. These behaviors involve staying away from places or situations that may trigger panic attacks. Common avoidances include driving, stores, and crowds. Additionally, many people panic disorder with agoraphobia will become afraid to leave their home.
Being homebound can greatly impact your quality of life. However, there are ways you can overcome a fear of leaving your home. Learn more about being homebound with agoraphobia: Tips to Overcoming a Fear of Leaving Your Home
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